Cabinet.



CLIPPARD.

CABINET.

APPLICATION FILED 00134. 1915. 1,1 98,327. Patented Sept. 12,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I. y 7.

A. B. CUPPARD.

CABINET.

APPUCATION FILED 0CT.4.1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Sept. 12; 1916.

U N I 1 ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALLEN B. CLIPPARD, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO COLONIAL CABINET COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

CABINET.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

Application filed October 4, 1915. Serial No. 53,890.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALLEN B. CLIPPARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Cabinet, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements 1n cabinets and consists in the novel features of construction hereinafter more fully disclosed.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved cabinet which shall be economical in manufacture and efficient in use as a kitchen cabinet, being provided with suitable supports and compartments for con taining kitchen utensils and supplies and useful for bread making and other like kitchen operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a cabinet of the class described convenient mountings for a slidable bread board and utensil supports, as well as convenient closures for the several compartments of the cabinet, in combination with suitable means for operating the closures.

Another and one of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a cabinet having a compartment provided with a slidable, flexible curtain for opening and closing the compartment, in combination with an actuator and controlling member for moving the curtain to its open and closed positions, and consisting of a movable rod or equ1valent member slidably supported within the cabinet and having a connection leading to the curtain whereby outward movement of the actuator will move the curtain to open position, said actuator being also equipped with a device adapted to engage with the curtain and to move the curtain toward closed position after the curtain has been opened, as aforesaid.

With these and other valuable and novel features which are attainable from the construction in view, I have designed, combined and arranged a cabinet including the several parts and elements designed and arranged as hereinafter fully disclosed, reference being made in the course of the description to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of the cabinet embodying my invention with the closures for the sereval compartments in closed adjustment. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the lower part of the cabinet embodying my invention, taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the flexible curtain constituting the closure for the lower compartment in closed adjustment, the actuator therefor having been returned to normal position. Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2, taken substantilly upon the same line 22 of Fig. 1, showing the flexible curtain constituting the closure for the lower compartment in open adjustment, and the actuator for controlling the movement of the closure drawn forwardly from the cabinet. Fig. l is an enlarged detail view showing certain specific details of the actuating mechanism for moving the flexible curtain, constituting the closure for the lower compartment, this view being a cross section taken substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 2. e

As illustrated in the drawing the cabinet embodying the invention includes a lower compartment comprising side walls 1, a rear wall 2 and a bottom wall 3 supported by suitable frame work 4 and elevated slightly from the floor line by legs 5. The rear wall extends upwardly to form the rear wall of a second compartment located above the compartment in the lower part of the cabinet.

The lower compartment is provided with a closure comprising a flexible curtain 6 which is mounted to slide vertically and rearwardly, the curtain being supported at the sides by vertical guide strips 7 and when in raised adjustment by horizontal guide strips 8. The guide strips 7 are secured to the side walls 2 adjacent to the front of the compartment and the guide strips 8 are secured to the side walls adjacent to the upper part of the compartment and extending rearwardly to the depth of the curtain so that when the curtain is in raised adjustment, as illustrated specifically in Fig. 3, the curtain will rest upon the guide strips 8 and extend slightly over the upper edges of the guide strips 7.

The operating mechanism for raising and lowering the curtain 6 comprises a block 9 which is mounted upon a rigid support 10. The support is carried by the upper part of the frame work for the lower compartment and has one of its longitudinal vertical edges formed as illustrated in Fig. 4. B reference to Fig. a it will be observed that the support 10 has an angular projection 11, the walls of which extend obliquely upwardly and downwardly, respectively, with respect to the vertical side edges of the support. The projection 11 is adapted to seat within a complementary groove 12 formed in the block 9. This form of connection between the block 9 and the support 10 prevents the block from displacement and causes it to operate back and forth smoothly and upon a straight line of movement. A red 13 is connected into the block 9 at one end preferably by threaded engagement and extends outwardly through the front of the cabinet and is provided at its outer extremity with a handle 14', whereby the rod may be engaged for manipulation.

The block 9 has a pawl or dog 15 pivoted thereto the pivoted connection in the embodiment shown comprising a removable screw-pin 16 passing through the dog 15 and threaded into the block 9. A pin 17 supported forwardly and below the pin 16 is screwed into the block 9 and constitutes an abutment member for the pawl or dog 15. The lower end of the pawl or dog 15 has an inclined face which is adapted to ride upon the upper horizontal face of a member 18, the member 18 being in the form of a Z- shaped plate attached to the under face of the support 10.

A flexible connection 19 in the form of a cord or wire is attached to the pawl 15 at its upper portion and extends backwardly over a pulley 20 secured to the rear wall of the cabinet to an eye 21 engaged with the upper edge of the flexible curtain 6 approximately at the center thereof. The length of the flexible connection 19 is such that when the curtain is in closed position, as shown in Fig. 2, the conenction 19 will be taut. In raising and lowering the curtain the operation of the actuator therefor is as follows: Assuming that the curtain is in closed position as illustrated in Fig. 2, by pulling the rod 13 outwardly the curtain will be raised by reason of the pull on the connection 19 between the rod 13 and the curtain, the limit of the backward movement of the curtain being controlled by an abutment block 22 supported transversely at the rear of the members 8. After the rod 13 has been withdrawn for the purpose of raising the curtain, as described, it may be pressed backwardly in the cabinet, the curtain remaining in the position shown in Fig. 3, resting horizontally on the members 8. To move the curtain 6 to closed position the rod 13 is drawn outwardly, and when the tain so that continued outward movement of the rod will actuate the curtain to a position from which it will move by gravity. As the curtain moves by gravity to closed position, the rod 13 may be moved gradually inwardly thus supporting the curtain and preventing it from dropping with too great force. By this construction it will be observed that the curtain 6 may be manipulated from acon venient position and without the necessity of the operator stooping to engage the lower edge of the curtain which would be neces sary where the curtain is manipulated sim ply by engaging hand holes at the lower edge thereof.

Above the lower compartment are additional compartments in the form of slidable drawers 23, 2a and 25 respectively, said drawers being arranged to slide in suitable mountings therefor formed in the frame work t, it being understood that the side walls 1 and the rear wall 2 extend upwardly so as to constitute an inclosure for these compartments A slidable board 26 is provided above the drawer 24, and has suitable bearing in the frame work. The top member 27 is mounted on the upper part of the frame 4t, a sliding board or plate 28 being mounted thereabove.

The upper part of the cabinet includes an incasement 29 which is supported in position by connecting members 30 of suitable form including, preferably a semicircular wall with upwardly extending flanges 31, and depending flanges 32, the flanges 31 and 32 being secured'respectively to the lower edge of the upper incasement and to the side longitudinal edges of the frame work at, there being provided inwardly extending lips 33 for supporting the lower edge of the upper incasement. In the incasement 29 are arranged. suitable compartments 34, and 36, respectively, the compartments 34 and 35 being closed by a closure in the form of flexible curtains 37 and 38 and the compartment 36 being provided with suitable doors 39. The top plate 4-0 surmounts the incasement 29, it being understood that the entire construction is preferably made with lapping tight joints so as to be as near as possible dustproof.

I am aware that numerous improvements in details may be made without departing from the spirit. and scope of the invention. I do not desire to limit myself, therefore, to the exact details of construction, but

What I claim. and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A cabinet comprising a frame including a compartment, a flexible closure for the compartment movable to open and to closed positions, and independently withdrawable drawer compartments within the frame, in

combination with an axially movable rod within the frame, a manually engageable handle in connection with said rod for operating the same, a blockconnected to the inner end of said rod, a horizontal support against which said block is movable, means holding said block in connection with said support, a pawl supported by said block and movable to and from position to engage said closure, elements limiting movement of said pawl in respect of the block, a pulley secured to the rear side of the cabinet, and a flexible connection between said pawl and said closure and passing around said pulley whereby movement of said rod in one direction, when the closure is closed, will move the closure to open position and retain the pawl out of position to engage the closure, said connection being arranged topermit the pawl to move to position to engage with the closure as 'an incident to axial movement of the rod from its starting point in the direction aforesaid when the closure is in open position.

2. In a cabinet, a compartment comprising side, rear and bottom walls and a flexible closure for said compartment movable to and from open position, in combination with an actuating mechanism for moving the closure to open and to closed positions and comprising an axially movable rod manually operable, a block attached to and movable by said rod, a rigid support in the top of the cabinet for slidably supporting said block, a pawl pivotally supported by said block and movable to and from positions to engage said closure, a. stop on the block for limiting movement of the pawl relative to the block when in position to be engaged with the closure, a flexible connection between the pawl and the closure, a pulley secured to the rear of the cabinet around which said connection passes whereby the movement of said rod in one direction will move the closure from closed to open position and will engage the pawl with the closure to start the closure from open to closed position and retard the closing movement of the closure.

3. In a cabinet, a compartment comprising side, rear and bottom walls, a flexible closure for said compartment movable to open and to closed positions and sup orts for retaining the closure in open and c osed positions, in combination with an axially movable rod in the cabinet, a block movable by the rod, a pawl pivoted near one end to the block and movable to and from position to engage the closure, a flexible connection between the pawl and the closure arranged when under tension to hold the pawl out of position to engage the closure, and also arranged when not under tension to enable the pawl to move to position to engage the closure, a pulley secured to the rear of the cabinet around which said connection passes, and elements limiting movement of the pawl in opposite directions.

4:. In a cabinet, a compartment comprising side, rear and bottom walls, a flexible closure for said compartment movable to open and to closed positions, guides in which said closure is movable, an axially movable rod supported by the cabinet, a pawl movable'by said rod, and adapted to engage with said closure when in one position, a flexible connection between said pawl and the movable closure, and arranged when under tension to hold said pawl out of position to engage said closure, and a pulley secured to the rear of the cabinet around which the connection operates between the pawl and the closure, said connection being under tension and preventing said pawl from engaging the closure when the rod is moved axially in one direction to move the closure to open position in said guides.

5. In a cabinet, a compartment comprising fixed side, rear and bottom walls and having an open side, a flexible closure for the open side of the compartment movable to open and to closed positions, guides in which said closure is movable, an axially movable rod supported by the cabinet, a pulley secured to the rear wall of the cabinet, a connection between said rod and said closure and passing around said pulley, whereby the closure will be moved to open position by movement of the rod axially in one direction, and a pawl movable by said rod into engagement with said closure when the latter is in open position to start the movement thereof from open position to closed position.

6. In a cabinet, a compartment comprising side, rear and bottom walls, a flexible closure for one side of said compartment movable to open and to closed positions, and guides in which said closure is movable, in combination with actuating mechanism for raising and lowering said closure including an axially movable rod movable into and out of the compartment, a block secured to said rod, a support against which said block is slidable, means holding said block in connection with said support, a pawl pivoted near one end to said block, a flexible connection between said pawl and said closure, a pulley supported adjacent to one wall of the cabinet and against which said connection operates between the pawl and the closure, and abutments limiting movement of said pawl.

7. In a cabinet, a compartment having an open end, a curtain constituting a closure for the open end of the compartment movable to open and to closed positions, guides for said curtain, an axially movable rod supported by the cabinet, a pawl supported in connection with said rod and movable by said rod into engagement with the curtain specification in the presence of tWo subscrib- When the latter is in open position as reing Witnesses. quired to actuate the curtain toward closed position, a flexible connection between said 5 pawl and said curtain, and a pulley against which said connection operates.

In Witness whereof, I have signed this ALLEN B. CLIPPARD.

Witnesses:

N. G. BUTLER, JOHN D. RIPPEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

